Magnetic hand tool



June 8 1926. 1,587,647

w. J. HOOD ET AL MAGNETIC HAND TO 0L Filed May 5. 1924 Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. HOOD AND EUGENE J'. HOOD, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

MAGNETIC HAND TOOL.

Applioatipn filed May 5, 1924. Serial No. 711,030.

Our invention has for its object to provide a combination tool wherein a round headed or flat headed screw, bolt or a nut may be placed and magneticallyheld preparatory to being rotated in securing it to an object. It also contemplates the provision of convenient means for readily connecting bits, particularly small tool elements, to the handle of the tool. Also means for magnetically holding small objects of magnetic material preparatory to their being operated upon and upon the completion of the required rotative movements of the tool, thus preventing the liberation thereof except upon an intentional jar to jar the objects free from the tool. Theinvention finds its particular advanta e when used to secure wood screws and sma 1 nuts in place.

The invention may be contained in structures which in their detailsvary in form.

To illustrate a practical application of the invention we have selected two tools each containing the invention and shall describe them hereinafter. The tools selected as examples of structures containing the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a view that is part1 a side view and partly asectional view oi a tool containing the invention. Figure 2 illustrates another'side and sectional view of the tool. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 indicated in Fig. 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the tool to show a socket wrench member attached to the tool. Figure 5 is a side view of the socket member., Figure 6 illustrates an end view .of the tool. Figure 7 is a side view of a bit embodying the invention, particularly designed to be used in connection with a Yankee screw driver.

The tools embodying our invention are provided with permanent magnets for tem-' porarily holding the articles that .are ma- 'n'ipulated by the tools in order that the articlesmay be easily placed in position preparatory totheir belng connected to objects. In the form of tool shown in the drawings, a U-sha ed ma net, that is, one having both poles ocated 1n proximity to each other, is conveniently supported or connected to a handle for the operation of the tool. In the form ofv tool shown in Figs. *1 tov 3, a U- shaped member of steel is provided which forms the shank of the tool. The member is magnetic material may be inserted between the legs of the magnet 1 to maintain the legs of the magnet in position and to cause the shank of the tool to present an attractive appearance. The strip 2 will also prevent the accumulation of dirt between the legs of the magnet. The magnet 1 is preferably cylindrical inform and is secured in the handle 3 by tightly fitting it within a bore formed within the handle and securing it.

by a pin 4 and a ferrule 5 in the manner well known in the art. The strip 2 preferably extends to a point at a short distance from the end of the magnet 1, and a strip of nonmagnetic metal 6 bent centrally is inserted in the space between the legs of the magnet '1. The strip 6 is preferably formed of brass and is tightly secured in position between the poles of the magnet 1 and so that a bit that may be'formed of magnetic material may be easily inserted between the poles or withdrawn therefrom. The intervening brass strip prevents the more intense magnetization of the bits that may be inserted within the strip 6 by reason of the gap that i and which will function with the parts of the hand tool for. connecting them therewith or will function with'the magnetized part of the hand tool.

.Bits of diiferentsizes may be inserted in position within the strip 6 and positioned so as to engage the head of a screw, that is, so as to protrude into the slot or channel commonly formed in the heads of screws. The bits 7' are provided with projecting lugs 8 that extend upward and beyond the side edges of the legs of the magnet 1 and of the strip 6. The ends of thelegs of the magnet 1 are threaded, and threaded collars 9 and 10 are secured to the end of the magnet 1. The opposed edges of the collars 9 and 10 engage the lugs 8 of the bits 7 and so that when the collars 9 and 10 are screwed towards each other they will clamp the opposite edges of the lugs 8 and thus secure the bits7. The positions of the bits 7 may be readily adjusted by varying the positions of the collars 9 and 10 on the end of the magnet 1 and so as to cause the ends of the bits to protrude more or less from the end of the shank, that is, from the end of the magnet 1. Screw bits may bethus adjusted according to the depths of the channels of the screws, whereby the bits may be so positioned that the top surfaces of the heads of the screws will make good contact with the end of the magnet so that the screws will be held in axial alignment with the shank of the screw driver, the bits being placed so that a good engagement may be made in the channel of the screw. The upper end of the magnet 1 may be formed concave as at 18 to permit a better magnetic contact between the end of the magnet 1 and the heads'of rounded screws. When rounded screws are to be secured into objects, the bit used may be adjusted in position by the operation of the collars 9 and 10. The double-ended bit shown in the drawing may be so formed that one end is particularly adapted for use in unscrewing round-headed screws, and the other end of the bit is designed for use in connection with fiat-headed screws, the distance between the end .to be used for roundheaded screws and the lugs 8- being shorter than the distance from the lugs to the other end of the bit, and so that when the screw driver is to be used for screwing roundheaded screws and if the bit is not in proper position, it may be easily withdrawn upon unscrewing the-collar 10, and turned end for .end and replaced between the ends of the magnet and collars, which will position the end of the bit at a point so as to engage the slot formed in round-headed screws and yet permitv good magnetic contact between the head of the screw withinthe concave portion of the end of the tool. 9 portion of the end of the tool is preferably well within the outer edge of the end of the tool so as to leave a substantially plane area of contact for the flat-headed screws.

If desired, the end of the handle 3 may be The concave shown in Figs. e

upon by the tool. The collar 10 is preferably removed from the end of the magnet 1 and the socket member 13 is screwed on to the end of the magnet. The edge of the socket member 13 is provided with a pair of notches 14 of a size such that they will fit over the lugs 8 of the bits 7. Preferably the collar 9 is lowered sufiiciently to draw the bits 7 from engagement with the nut or head of the bolt that is to be operated upon by the tool after the socket member13 has been secured in position. When the socket member 13 has been screwed on to the end of the magnet until its edge engages the lugs 1a, the collar 9 may be rotated to cause it to recede from the socket member until the socket member can be turned so as to place the notches 14 in alignment with the In 8, whereupon the collar 9 may be screwed a ong the magnet 1 until the lugs 8 are forced into the notches 14, whereupon the collar 13 will be securely locked to the tool and consequently may be rotated with considerable force to screw or unscrew a bolt or nut. The length of the socket member 13 is preferably such that upon being properly connected with the bit 7 when the bit 7 is at a point such that its outer end is within the end of the tool, and such that the head of the bolt or the nut may be placed in contact with the poles of the magnet 1 and yet so that there will be good wrench enga ement between the socket member and the olt or screw. This will enable the magnet 1 to temporarily hold the bolt or nut in position while it is being screwed into place and to temporarily engage the bolt or nut when it is unscrewed. This is particularly advantageous when used in connection with small nuts, since it is often diflicult to place the nuts in alignment when starting to screw them in position, and moreover prevents the loss of the nuts when they are unscrewed, which otherwise commonly occurs in unscrewing small nuts.

If it is desired to operate upon wood screws or the like, all that is required is to screw the collar 9 on to the magnet 1, which permits the lugs 8 to disengage from the socket member 13. When the socket member 13 is liberated from the lugs 8, it may be unscrewed and the collar 10 may be placed in osition' on the endof the magnet 1.

f it is desired, the invention may be aplied to a Yankee screw driver. A bit may e formed having the magnet 15 and a strip 16 of non-magnetic material having the slot 17 may be located between the poles of the magnet. I The bits 7 may be located. in the slot as described in connection with the tool 1 to 3. The end of the ma net 15 may threaded and provided wit the collars 9 and 10 that position the bits 7 relative to the end of the magnet 15, in the same manner that the collars 9 and 10 position the bits 7 relative to the magnet 1.

We claim 2-- 1. In a hand tool, the hand tool having a shank, the shank having a slotted and threaded end the end having a concave surface, a collar having a notch and threaded on to the end of the shank, a removable member for turning screws located in the slot and protruding from the end of the shank to engage the screws, the member having a lug protruding laterally from the shank and from the slot, a second collar threaded on to the shank for securing the lug in the notch of the first collar.

2. In a hand tool, the tool having a shank,

the shank having a slotted and threaded end the end'having a concave surface, a collar having a pair of notches and threaded on to the, end of the shank, a bit located in the slot and having a pair of lugs protruding from the slots and extending into the notches, a second collar threaded on to the shank for securely clamping the lugs in the notches. 7

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto signed our names to this specification.

WILLIAM J. HOOD. EUGENE J. HOOD. 

